JICA to fund ITS installation in Bengaluru, India

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Government of India to introduce a new Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in the city of Bengaluru in the state of Karnataka.

Under the agreement, JICA will fund ‘The project for implementation of Advanced Traffic Information and Management System in core Bengaluru’.

It will see the introduction of traffic signal control systems at 29 intersections, together with a traffic control centre in the middle of the city.

After installation, the ITS solutions are expected to improve the average travel speed in the city centre by 13%, while the queue length at main intersections are estimated to drop by 30%.

“We believe that this project has great potential to be scaled up so as to enhance the long-term vitality of Bengaluru city’s regional economy and to contribute towards reduction of global warming.”

The ITS-based traffic control system will target all road users, including vehicles, auto rickshaws, bicycles and pedestrians to optimise the project’s utilisation.

Sakamoto said: “The project would optimise the way traffic lights work, reducing long queues at main intersections. Mitigating traffic congestion and normalising the traffic flow would lead to a more effective utilisation of road infrastructure and also should increase road safety.

“This project is a pilot in a sense that it would only cover a part of the Megacity.

“However, we believe that this project has great potential to be scaled up so as to enhance the long-term vitality of Bengaluru city’s regional economy and to contribute towards reduction of global warming.”

The implementation of the project was said not to affect the status of the natural or social environment and will be carried out within the right-of-way of the existing road in the city.